(Well)
The United States is in the middle of another coronavirus Boom, this time thanks to the Omicron subvariant BA.5. Scientists warn that the new subvariant appears to be the most commonly transmitted version of the virus ever, and that it is re-infecting people who have already been exposed to the previous variant once or twice, sometimes -Sometimes recently a few weeks ago.
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small percentage of people who avoid COVID-19 For 2 1/2 years even BA.5 have been figuring out there are ways to get ahead of their defense. Even President Joe Biden, who had managed to avoid the infection, tested positive on Thursday. Like many Americans, Biden and his aides had let their guard down while loosening the stringent COVID-19 precautions already implemented at the White House.
Everyone wants to return to normalcy, although surveys show that few Americans are unsure of what living with COVID-19 should really look like. Most cities unlikely to roll back previously used mask mandates or other protective measures EpidemicOr even in the original omicron boom.
“We’ve changed our baseline,” said Michael Osterholm, a public health researcher and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The number of hospitalizations has nearly doubled since May and more than 400 Americans are dying every day, but these numbers are well below the peak of the winter omicron wave.
“Earlier in the pandemic, we would never have accepted these numbers,” Osterholm said.
Long-term symptoms are also likely to develop COVID-19Which researchers are trying to understand completely. Still, experts are weighing in on those concerns.
“We can live our lives knowing that this risk exists,” said bioethicist Diane Ho of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
The question is what public health measures the nation needs to prioritize. And what can you personally do to reduce your risk of exposure, slow the constant cycle of new forms, and minimize disruptions to daily life? Here are five steps to take, if you haven’t already.
Below are some steps that individuals can take to protect themselves from COVID-19. (PTI)
1. Maximize your vaccines and boosters.
If you haven’t received your booster – or any shot – experts say the current boom is a good reason to schedule an appointment now. Vaccines provide excellent protection against serious disease and booster shots can increase those benefits. But less than half of Americans have received boosters, and less than a third of adults who are eligible for their second booster (or fourth shot) — those who are immunocompromised or older than 50 — have received it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uses the Word “Totally” Vaccination“Describing the first two doses of vaccines at the start of the pandemic has not helped. Although the agency has since switched to saying that people should be “up to date” with all of their shots, unfortunately the initial use of “fully vaccinated” has stuck.
“A lot of people have said, ‘I have my two shots and I’m done,'” Osterholm said.
Osterholm said some people may also be discouraged by new research that shows immunity against infection is significantly reduced within three months, and the latest Omicron subvariant more efficient at dodging immunity than older versions of the virus. Huh.
Newer Vaccines Aimed More At Omicron subtype Will probably come in the fall, and the Biden administration is considering expanding booster eligibility. But if you’re in a high-risk group that is eligible for a second booster, you shouldn’t try to reduce the timing of your shots. According to the CDC, getting vaccinated now “will not prevent you from receiving an authorized version-specific vaccine in the fall or winter when they are recommended for you.”
2. Find your new community COVID-19 Indicator.
You should look at COVID-19 statistics to gauge your risk and decide when to add more levels of protection. For most of the pandemic, the CDC’s color-coded map of community-level exposure was a good indicator of cases and transmission rates. But the agency has recently changed the way it calculates these risk levels to place a greater emphasis on local admitted to hospital rates.
Due to a mix of natural or vaccine immunity, home testing and treatments that are available, case numbers no longer track closely with hospitalizations, making real-time tracking of the virus blurry. Instead, experts recommend using other methods to stay informed of your community’s COVID-19 risks: Check local news and tap into your social networks.
Talk to your family and friends as well as other members of your community to find out if they have recently had COVID-19 or know someone who has or has recently had COVID-19, Ajay Sethi, a public health researcher at the university. Wisconsin-Madison. Since you’re more likely to interact with people in your network, you can get a better understanding of what’s happening in your community and what your risk of getting sick may be.
when you’re getting closer COVID-19 Or getting re-infected more often, as people across the country are now, is a good indicator that you and your teammates should start wearing masks and adding more COVID-19 protection.
Some people, Sethi said, may feel hesitant to share that they have the virus, either because they feel like an outsider, ashamed that they caught it or are linked to relatives with different pandemic ideologies. Know the stigma. But “this is kind of the opposite of what we need to do,” he said.
3. Mask up, not just indoors.
Wear a good quality mask in public places where you need to protect yourself, whether you are infected with COVID-19 or not. Caitlin Rivers, a public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said each infection could still bring the risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms over a long period of time.
“For me, the thought process hasn’t changed much,” Rivers said. “Whenever I’m indoors I continue to wear a mask and try to do as much outdoor activities as possible.”
Other experts agree that if you want to go masklessThe outdoor air will be much safer than indoor places. But even outside, the closer people are together, the higher the risk of catching the virus.
“As contagious as BA.5 is, we have to acknowledge that it is important that you are not in crowded conditions with limited air,” Osterholm said.
For example, if you are hosting a summer barbecue, you may want to invite fewer guests to reduce the risk of virus transmission. You can also check that everyone has been vaccinated and tested negative recently. on the big celebrationsOsterholm said, such as at outdoor concerts or weddings, where you have less control, you should wear a mask for a few days and monitor yourself for new symptoms.
4. Keep rapid tests on hand – and use them.
Rapid tests are an effective tool to combat the spread of COVID-19 if you use them regularly. If you’re only testing after potential exposure, you’re doing it wrong, Sethi said. Instead, book social events by testing before large gatherings and three to five days after so that you can protect yourself and the people you meet.
Keep a collection of rapid tests at home, especially if you don’t have access to testing at a public testing site or through your workplace, said Alyssa Bilinsky, a health policy expert at Brown University. Each household can order three rounds of free tests – or a total of 16 tests – from the government. Those with insurance can also be reimbursed for up to eight free trials a month.
Just remember that you can test negative even if you have symptoms of COVID-19, Sethi said. Quarantine if you think you may be sick. Test again a day or two after your negative result to be sure. And if you have COVID-19, get tested even after your symptoms have subsided or disappeared. A positive antigen test is a fairly reliable sign that you are still infectious, even if your symptoms have subsided or disappeared.
When people don’t use them often enough, rapid test Sethi said that it is less useful from a public health point of view.
5. If you’re traveling, learn how to get treatment.
Before you go, prepare for the possibility of getting infected during the trip.
“It’s a good idea to travel with a printed list of all your current medications, your medical and vaccination history, and your provider’s contact information,” said Dr. Anne Luetkemeier, professor of infectious disease. Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.
Keep enough room on your credit card and read your health and travel insurance policies carefully to see what expenses they will cover if you have to extend your trip. COVID-19. And do a little research into the clinics and pharmacies at your destination.
Although you cannot receive Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment for COVID-19 without a diagnosis, you can use the Test to Treat locator to find places where testing and immediate treatment are available in the United States. Pharmacists can also prescribe directly to patients who test positive but haven’t been able to see a medical provider, said Kuldeep Patel, senior associate chief pharmacy officer at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina.
Outside the United States, however, the availability of treatment will depend on where you are. Paxlovid and another antiviral called molnupiravir are both on the World Health Organization’s list of recommended drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 and are approved for use in several countries.
But you can also avoid the uncertainty of finding medicine abroad. If you are at high risk for COVID-19 complications or may be immunocompromised and at risk for reduced vaccine efficacy, talk to your doctor about receiving the monoclonal antibody treatment Evusheld before you travel. Can, Lutkemayer said. You may also want to take over-the-counter medications – such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough Suppressants and Throat Lozenges – To help ease symptoms when you are sick.
You can choose which moves will minimize the most damage right now, and those calculations can be different for different people. Bilinsky said the country is “struggling to reconstruct what the risk of Covid looks like.” But that doesn’t mean we should completely abandon measures that will keep us safe, she said. The BA.5 surge is a reminder that there’s a middle ground between having COVID-19 precautions in your life and pretending it is. Epidemic is over.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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